Inductee Class of 1986

Art Allen

(Iron River)

a high school coach, director of athletics and official for more than 30 years, he served 20 years on the U.P. Athletic Committee. Inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, he has served as president of the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame Council.

Dick Berlinski

(Quinnesec)

who set a U.P. football scoring record of 194 points and was a prep All-American in 1964 at Kingsford High where he earned 16 letters in four sports. The Big Ten's punting leader at Michigan State, he kicked the game winning FG in the 1968 North-South All-Star Game.

Gerry Deprato

(Iron Mountain)

the first football All-American at Michigan State when he scored 15 touchdowns and kicked 28 PATs and two FGs for 124 points in 1915. His accomplishments were lost in the passage of time and in the 1950s he was recognized as MSU's "Forgotten All-American."

Morgan Gingrass

(Marquette)

a four-sport athlete in high school, he played football at North Carolina State, Northern Michigan University and Michigan State, and was a high school and NMU coach. Named to the NMU Sports Hall of Fame in 1976, he had a 102- yard pass interception for a TD.

Jack Lester

(Bessemer)

the heavyweight boxing champion of the British Empire in 1911 and an aspirant for the world title during the Jack Johnson era. He entered the pro ring at age 17 in 1908 and won the British crown in a 20-round fight in Australia. He died in 1916 at age 26.

George Ruwitch

(Norway/Escanaba)

who coached Escanaba High to U.P. football titles in 1939-40-41-45 and to its first U.P. basketball title in 1945. His grid teams won 38 consecutive games from 1935 through 1941 and were unbeaten, untied and unscored upon in 1939. He also officiated 20 years.

Norman Slough

(Manistique)

who won 10 varsity letters at both Manistique High and NMU. He had a 75% winning basketball coaching record at Rapid River High, was a founder of the Central U.P. Athletic League, and was a high school and college official for 42 years.

Jack Streidl

(Menominee)

a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion and a tackle on Western Michigan's unbeaten 1941 football team, he coached Plainwell High to 202 grid victories. He is a member of the WMU Athletic, MHSAA, and the Michigan High School Football Coaches Halls of Fame.

Dave Tucker

(Ontonagon)

the football, basketball and track coach at Ontonagon High for 27 years where he was described as a "gentleman coach" and his cage teams won seven district titles and 326 games. He was the basketball MVP in 1956 and the team captain in 1957 at Minnesota.

John D. Wilson

(Greenland)

who coached Mass High to 59 consecutive wins and the 1948 state basketball championship. A basketball player and wrestler at Indiana, he came to Mass in 1940 where his cage teams won four district and two U.P. titles, and he also coached baseball.